Removing coke from coke stills



July 8, 1941. L, DE FLQREZ n 2248,903

AREMOVING COKE FROM vCOKE STILLS Filed July 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 MMM,

July 8, 1941. L DE FLOREZ 2.248Q903 '2 REMOVING COKE FROM COKE STILLS Filed`July 22, 1938 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 3, 1941- L. DE FLoREz 2.248.903

REMOVING COKE FROM COKE STILLS I Filed July 22, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 lA A' Ilma. i IWI-lll!! a2 x ,i [l

July 8, 1941- L. DE FLoREz 2,248,903

REMOVING COKE FROM COKE STILLS Filed July 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNvlzN-roR ws del/20052 ATTORNEY Patented July 8, 1941 2,248,903 REMOVING COKE FROM COKE STlLLS Luis de Florez, Pomfret, Conn., assigner to De Florez Engineering Co., Inc., Hartford, Conn., a corporation f Connecticut Application July 2z, 193s, serial No. 220,714

'2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in effecting the removal of coke from cracking or coking stills. l

A primary object of the invention is to provide for expeditiously and eiciently removing coke formed in stills or reaction chambers wherein hydrocarbon or petroleum oils are reduced to coke.

The invention contemplates the application to the mass in the coking drum, unde'r an applied. hydraulic pressure, of a plurality of power-actuated eoke cutting or boringelements. In accordance with the invention a rotary hydraulic pressure plunger carries a plurality of cutting or boring elementsv provided with actuating means in addition to, and separate from, the rotaryplunger. Thus the invention contemplates the provision of a rotary hydraulic pressure plunger provided with a head carrying one or more cutting or boring elements each of which is provided with separate power-operated actuating means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotary hydraulic pressure plunger carries a cutting or drilling head provided with chaindriven cutting elements which, due to the rotation of the plunger, operate to produce an annular bore in the coke mass. The invention further contemplates the provision of such cutting head with additional boring, reaming or cut-v ting mechanism adapted to break up the coke mass within the annular bore simultaneously with the operation of the chain cutters.

For the purpose of more fully disclosing the invention, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation, partially in section, of apparatus constructed in accordance with the iuvention and constituting an embodiment thereof with certain operative elements of the mechanism in disengagement.

` upper portion of the apparatus of Figure 2 showing the coke cutting head.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-section taken onA the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Fisure 5 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 -is a horizontal cross-section taken on the line 6-5 of Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a view of a modied form of cutting head.

. of splines 25 for engagement with the hub 26 of Figure 8 is a view `of another modification of the cutting head. v

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the cutting tool and the cylinder for operating it taken on line 3-9 at Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, a coking drum Il is supported on a framework II and is adapted for accomplishing the coking of hydrocarbon oils into a solid residue or coke mass I2. The coking drum is provided with a manway, preferably of relatively large diameter,v to accommodate the entrance of the coke removal apparatus. As illustrated, the coke drum is provided with a bottom manway cover I3 which is of the same diameter as that of the coking drum. A manway cover carriage I4, riding on tracks I5, supported by the framework II, is provided so that when the cover 'is removed from the drum it may readily be shifted from beneath the drum'so that the coke removal apparatus may be positioned and applied to the coke mass in the drum. Y

A well or hydraulic casing I6 is provided for applying hydraulic pressure to a plunger Il. 'Ihe hydraulic casing is equipped with a stuing box I8. The plunger I1 is rotated by means of a turntablel I9 formed with bevel ge'ar20 meshing with pinion 2| mounted on shaft 22 suitably geared to a motor 23 and provided with a clutch 24. The plunger I'I is formed with a plurality the turntable I3 so that a rotary movement may be imparted to the plunger Il while permitting longitudinal movement of the plunger through the turntable I9. A bearing framework 21 supports a bearing 23 secured by a threaded collar 29.

The drill head or cutting Vhead assembly carried by the plunger Il includes a'tubular member 30 Fig. 2 and Fig. 3), interiorly formed for engagementrwith the splines 25 of the plunger I'I, to provide vfor rotary movement oi' the cutting head. The tubular member 30 supports a motor housing 3l in which are mounted motors 32. The housing 3| is provided for keeping the powdered coke away from the motor mechanisms. The motors may be supplied with electric energy by means of a commutator (not shown) which may be suitably mounted on the tubular member 30. Each motor hasa shaft 33 ,carrying a worm gear 34 (Fig. 5) meshing with wormv wheel 35 mounted on a shaft 36 which extends through bearing supports 3l in the frame of the motor housing 3l and is also supported in a bearing 38 in a bearing bracket 33 secured to the base or frame 43 of the cutting head which is suitably 'cured to the frame Il` are approximately paralle1 to the axis of the plunger I1. The endless chain 42 carries a plurality of knives or cutting elements 44. The cutting head assembly includes a reamer or boring element 45 of general pyramidai configuration and preferably disposed in a central portion of the cutting head. As the plunger I1 is rotated, the cutting head, including the cutter bars 43 and the central boring element 45, isapplied under hydraulic pressure to the coke mass and the chain cutting elements 44, being operated by the motors independently of the movement of the plunger I1, cut into the coke' mass and due to the rotation of the plunger I1, produce an annular bore therein.` Simultaneously the reamer 45 operates to produce a central bore in the coke mass and, due to the annular bore being made in the coke mass, operates to cause a breaking of the intervening coke so that as the cutter head moves upwardly, the coke is eifectuaily broken up and the lumps of coke drop through openings in the cutting head frame and out of the coking chamber.` By forming the element 45 of a. plurality of triangularly shaped vanes intersecting in the axis, as illustrated, the upward thrust movement of the plunger, as well as the rotary movement thereof, is utilized very effectively to break up .the coke mass interveningv within the annular bore.

In practice it is desirable to provide a manway for the coke drum having a diameter approximating the diameter of the drum and to dispose the cutter bars mor operation along the side wall of the coke drum or closely adjacent thereto so that the cutting head will operate to remove substantially the entire mass of coke as it progresses upwardly within the coking A chute is provided for directing the coke into a car 41. The chute'is formed' of two sections, 45a and 45h. 'Ihe one section 45a is pivota'lly mounted on a shaft 48 Journalled in bearing brackets 49 secured to the frame II. 'I'he shaft 48 is conveniently rotated by hand by means of a chain 55 and flanged sprocket 5I which operates worm 52 meshing with worml gear 58 carried on the rotatable shaft 48. 'I'he other section 45b of the chute is provided with gear racks 54 meshing with rotatable pinion gears 55 mounted on a shaft 55. Guide members '51 suitably seprovided, for guiding the section 45h of the chute. 'I'he shaft 55 is conveniently hand-operated by means of a chain 58 and flanged sprocket; 58 which operates worm pinion`80 which meshes with a worm gear 5I on the shaft 55. Thus by means of the handoperatedA chains 5 0 and 58 the chute may readily -be moved to and from the operating position,

the section 45a being swung on its pivotal mountcutting elements 44.

ported on'the run in the coking still I 0, the manwaycom I3 v is removed from the still and lowered onto the carriage I4 and the carriage is moved on the track I5 from under the stili to a distant position. The drill head carried on the carriage 82 is then positioned in alignment with therstill I0. The valve on the hydraulic system is opened to actuate the plunger l1 which is moved upwardly and engages with the socket member 30 of the drill head assembly. When the drill head reaches the bottom of the coke mass I 2 the upward movement of the plunger I1 may be .stopped and the chutes 45a and 45h are positionedas shown in Figure 2. The clutch 24 is then engaged to rotate the plunger I1. The hydraulic pressure is applied to impart an upward thrust to the plunger and the motors 88 are .the drill head carriage 52 and the plunger descending to the position shown in Figure 1. 'Ihe drill head is then moved away by the carriage 52 and the manway cover I8 is moved into position under the still I0 and secured to the still ready for the next run.

Referring now to Figure 7, the modified cutting elements illustrated therein are adapted to be operated by iiuid pressure, such as air or steam. The plunger I1 carries an inclined platform 88- on which is mounted a to actuate a cutting element 58. A steam valve for controlling the admission of steam to the cylinder 51 includes a stationary chamber 58 and a rotating chamber 18. The stationary chamber 88 is supported by a bracket 88h fixed to a cross-bar 'II which may be suitably secured to the frame II. Steam under pressure is admitted through pipe 12 to the stationary chamber 88. 'I'he rotatv18 establish communication with the cylinder 51 for operating the piston therein. 'I'he steam cylinder 51' rides a screw-threaded shaftV 14 sup- Y table 55 so that the cutting ele` ment may be movedV back and forth transversely of the table 55. For operating the screw-threaded shaft 14 by hand a sprocket chain 15 and anged sprocket 15 are provided. 'I'he sprocket 15 is mounted on a shaft "which is provided with a chain drive 18 for operating a shafft 19 having a worm pinion (not shown) in mesh with a. worm gear 88 mounted on the shaft 14. As shown in Figure 9 the cutting element 58 may be formed with a knife-like serrated edge. With the hydraulic pressure applied tothe rotating shafrt I1, the reciprocating cutting element 58 operated by the steam cylinder 51 serves to break and chip the coke. By moving .fthe cylinder 81 by means of the threaded screw 14, the position of the chipping element 58 may readily be shifted as started to operate the is disengaged and the motors 83 steam cylinder 81 adapted ing a pair of cylinders 82 for operating cutting `elements 83. The cylindersy 82 are mounted on tions 86 which lead to a suitable valve similar to.

that described for the apparatus of Figure serve to apply steam pressure to the pistons contained in cylinders 82.

In one modiiication of theinvention, instead of movably mounting :the actuating cylinders for the cutting elements, as in Figures 7 and 8, the actuating cylinders may have a stationary mounting on the rotating table carried'by the hydraulic rotary plunger l1. It is advantageous for example, to provide the rotating table, such as table al of Figure 8, with a plurality of actuating cylinders disposed at selected points on the rotating table.

In a further modication of the invention the reaming or boring element l5, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, may be omitted and one or more independently actuated cutting or boring elements may be substituted therefor. 'Ihus while the chain-operated cutting elements I2 function to forman annular bore inthe coke mass, one or more 'cutting-or boring elements, actuated by air or steam independently of the plunger i1..

serve to break up the intervening coke mass.

The invention is highly advantageous when applied to a plurality of coking drums. Thus a plurality of coke drums may be suitably mounted on supporting structure similar to the frame.

work Il illustrated herein and beneath each drum a hydraulic casing i8 and rotatable shaftl I1 is provided. By means of the tracks Il the drill head may readily be moved for operation to the drum desired and thus while coking may be 'carried on in certain of the drums, one'v or more of the drums may be opened for coke removal and the coke removing operation carried von as has been described herein. Thus in continuous combination-cracking and coking processes, coking may be continuously carried on by adapted to supply hydraulic pressure to said carrying on coking in one or more drums while in other or others the coke removing operations m be conducted.

gram the description it will be seen that the invention contemplates the rapid breakv v ing up of the coke mass in thedrum by means of the combination of the simultaneously applied forces `of the upwardY thrust of the hydraulic plunger, the rotating movement of the plunger and the individual movements of the several cuttingl elements carried by the plunger. By having one or lmore of the cutting elements mounted out of axial alignment with the plunger I1, the rotation of the plunger operates to move tions may be made therein, while securing to a greater or less extent some .or all 'of the beneiits of the invention, without departingirom the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. In combination with a coking drum having 'a bottom manway cover, a trame support for said drum.- a-track mounted on said support, a carriage adapted to ltravel on said track and adapted to receive' the manway' cover, a -cutting head assembly provided with cutting elements, a second carriage adapted to ride on said track and adapted to receive said cutting head assembly, a plunger adapted to operatively engage said cutting head assembly, a casing adapted to supply hydraulic pressure to said plungerv and means for rotating said plunger.

2. In combination with la coking drum, a frame support i'or said drum, a track mounted head assembly. a. plungeradapted to operatively engage said cutting head assembly, a .casing plunger, a chute mounted on said frame and adaptedlfor movement .to be positioned beneath said drum to receive the cuttings producedl by the cutting mechanism and to be moved away from such position, -1

' LUIS or FIDREZ. 

